Liquid soap dispenser



Feb. 11, 1941. J, PALMER 2,231,477

LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed Aug. 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 B 1. 4? .9 '+3 I 8/ /0 2'0 8 7 /9 22 i I 0' g |4 g9 I I 5O 24 0'25 878 4 .a /7/Z 3 Z8 Inventor u h n Fr'edernzK Palmer Htturnegs- Feb. 11, 1941. J. F. PALMER 2,231,477

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VFatented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER John Frederick Palmer, Waukesha, Wis.

Application August 4,

5 Claims.

This invention pertains to liquid soap dispensers, and more particularly to a dispenser designed to deliver liquid soap in the form of suds or lather.

Since the introduction of liquid soap it has been determined that the most desirable manner of using the same is in a suds or lather form, inasmuch as the soap when broken up with air is more beneficial to the skin, and does not readily flow from the palms of the hands. Also a considerable economy is effected, in that a relatively small quantity of liquid soap of a low soap content performs the same cleansing operation, when sudsed or lathered, as twice the amount of liquid soap of a higher soap content.

To accomplish the desired sudsing of liquid soap, numerous dispensers have been developed utilizing air check valves, screens, churning springs, air cylinders, and the like, but these have proved impractical, costly, and difiicult to maintain.

The present invention has primarily for its object to overcome the foregoing difficulties by the provision of an exceedingly simple, inexpensive, and efficient manually actuated measuring valve for use upon a multiple pipe gravity system, or individual containers, to aerate and dispense liquid soap in accurate measured quantities of suds.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object of the present invention resides in the provision of a manually actuated valve for accurately measuring a quantity of liquid soap, and automatically aerating the liquid to convert it into suds or lather during the dispensing operation.

Another object resides in the provision of a piston including a plurality of annular baiiles designed to break up and mix the liquid soap with air contained in the dispenser, to create suds or lather.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser, including a manually operable plunger, consisting of a double valve for accurately determining the quantity of soap dispensed, and means on the plunger for sudsing the liquid.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings are illustrated 1938, Serial No. 222,966

several forms of the physical embodiment of the present invention, constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a dispenser constructed in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed section of a 15 modified form of the structure illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of still another modification of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the 20 line 'l'| of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a similar section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly to that form of the in- 25 vention disclosed in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral l designates an outer cylindrical casing threaded upon a nipple or fitting 2, communicating with either an individual liquid soap container or a common reservoir utilized in a multi- 30 ple gravity system. Adjacent its opposite end the casing I is provided with an internal shoulder 3, against which a sleeve 4 positioned within the shell abuts a gasket 5, serving to effect a seal between the casing and sleeve. The sleeve 4 is held 35 within the casing l by a cap 6 threaded into the end of the shell.

The sleeve 4 is divided into front and rear measuring compartments 6 and I, respectively, by a partition 8 having sealing gaskets 8' dis- 40 posed upon opposite sides and abutting an internal shoulder 9 formed in the sleeve 4. The forward end of the compartment is provided with an annular partition I!) abutting an orificed spanner nut ll threaded into the end of the 45 sleeve, the partitions 8 and I0 being held in spaced relation by a sleeve 12.

Slidably mounted within the sleeve 4 is a manually operable plunger designated generally by the numeral l3, and comprising a sleeve l4 hav- 50 ing a recessed thumb-piece l5 threaded into its outer end and projecting through the retaining cap 6, which normally abuts the end of the sleeve [4 and retains the same within the sleeve 4.

The inner end of the sleeve 13 is closed by an 55 annular gasket l6 upon which a washer I1 is seated. An expansible coil spring l8, disposed between the washer l1 and the partition 8, serves to hold the gasket l6 against the sleeve l4. The shank of the valve member l9, carried by the plunger I3, is provided with a restricted portion intermediate its ends, and the adjacent portions of the shank form spaced valves 2| and 22, respectively, which control openings 23 and 24 provided in the partitions 8 and Ill, respectively. Ducts 25, provided in the head 26 of the valve l9, form communications between the rear measuring compartment 1 and the interior of the plunger l4.

Positioned within the plunger I4 is a plug 21, which abuts the head 26 of the valve l9, and extends into the recess formed in the thumb-piece l5. The plug 21 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular flanges 28 snugly fitting the interior of the recess in the thumbpiece l5, and provided with disalined peripheral notches 29 to cause soap passing around the plug 21 to travel a circuitous path, as will be hereinafter described in detail. The thumb-piece I5 is provided adjacent its outer end with a depending discharge nipple 36.

While the present form of the invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the specific structure may be varied, and that the several elements are assembled from a plurality of parts, merely for the purpose of expediting manufacture and assembly.

Considering now the operation of that form of the invention so far described, and with particular reference to Figure 1, the plunger I3 is shown in its normal position, in which the valve 2| closes the central opening in the forward partition I 0, while the restricted portion 20 of the valve shank extends through the opening 23 in the partition 9 to allow communication between the front and rear compartments 6 and 1.

Obviously, when the plunger I3 is depressed with the butt or heel of the operator's hand against the end of the thumb-piece I5, the valve 2| leaves the partition In, providing communication between the supply nipple 2 and the front measuring compartment 6'. At the same time the valve 22 closes the opening 23 of the partition 9, cutting 01f communication between the front and rear measuring compartments 6 and I, respectively. Obviously, the foregoing results in filling the front measuring compartment 6, with a predetermined quantity of liquid soap, and upon release of the plunger the valve 2| closes the opening in the partition 10, cutting off further supply.

The foregoing operation is repeated until both the compartments 6' and 1 are filled with soap, whereupon depression of the plunger will cause the valve 22 to close the opening in thepartition 9, and as the plunger moves inwardly, the liquid soap contained in the compartment 1 is displaced and forced through the ducts 25 into the plunger. Obviously, as the liquid soap passes around the plug 21, the annular flanges 28 provided with the disalined notches 29 serve as bailles, causing the material to travel a circuitous path, and inasmuch as the interior of the plunger I3 is open to atmosphere through the discharge nozzle 39, the liquid soap, as it travels past the bafiles or flanges 28, is broken up and mixed with air contained within the plunger, with the result that the liquid is converted and discharged through the nozzle 30 into the palm of the operators hands in suds I form.

During initial movement of the plunger l4, upon release by the operator, the partition 9 continues to be closed by the valve 22. Consequently, the pressure within the compartment 1 is reduced by the action of the plunger, and, therefore, any liquid or suds remaining within the plunger is again returned to the compartment 1 through the ducts 25, the result of which is to definitely stop the discharge of suds through the nozzle 30, and prevents objectionable dripping upon removal of the operators hand from the thumb-piece.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that upon each operation of the dispenser the quantity of liquid soap delivered is definitely determined by the capacity of the compartment 6', although during the operation of the device the material subsequently enters the rear compartment 1, from which it enters the plunger and is converted into suds, the quantity of suds dispensed being determined by the length of movement of the plunger.

That form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 differs from the preferred form thus far described only in that it substitutes a spiral brush 3| in the plunger M for the plug insert 21 shown in Figure 1, the bristles of the brush serving the function of the notches, flanges, or baffles 28 in breaking up and mixing the liquid soap with air contained withinthe plunger to convert the same into suds.

That form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 differs primarily from the forms previously described in the means provided for measuring the soap delivered to the dispenser, the fundamental principle of operation and results obtained remaining the same.

Referring particularly to Figure 6, it will be noted that the floating valve 32 is carried by the plunger l3, which valve is designed to control communication to the measuring compartment and the hollow plunger l3.

The plunger I3 is provided with a solid thumbpiece l5 threaded into the outer end of the sleeve I4, which is provided with a depending discharge nozzle 30' projecting through alined slots 34 formed in the outer casing I and the sleeve 4'. The discharge nozzle 30' limits projection of the plunger I3 by the expansible spring l8, disposed between the plunger and spanner nut threaded into the end of the sleeve 4. The spanner nut II is provided with an inlet orifice 35, which communicates with the supply fitting 2 through the radial ducts 31. The orifice 35 is surrounded by an annular featheredge valve seat 38, which is closed by the valve 39 mounted on the shank 40. The insert plug 21', instead of being positioned in the thumb-piece I5, i contained in the sleeve l4 of the plunger, and is held in position between the cap 42 and the thumb-piece [5. The insert plug 21' is also provided with spaced annular notched flanges 28 that serve as bafiies to cause the liquid to travel a circuitous path, which aerates and converts the liquid into suds. In this instance the plug 21' is provided with a central bore or pocket 44, in which an expansible coil spring 45 is contained for urging the valves 43 and 35 toward their seats. Ducts 46, formed in the inner end of the plug 21', provide communication between the interior and exterior of the plug, the interior being in communication with the measuring compartment 33 through the central opening 41 formed in the cap 4 I.

In operation, when the plunger is in its normal position, as shown in Figure 6, the inlet orifice 35 is open, and liquid soap delivered to the same through the radial ducts 31 enters the measuring compartment 33. When the plunger I3 is depressed by the operator, the valve 39 engages the seat 38 to close the inlet orifice 35, and upon further movement of the plunger, the spring 45 contained within the plug 21' yields and permits relative movement between the plunger and valve 32, which results in unseating the valve 43 to permit liquid soap to enter the plunger through the opening 41, from which it passes through the ducts 4| to travel through the plunger around the plug 21, during which operation it is aerated and converted into suds discharged through the nozzle 30'.

When the plunger is released by the operator, and is returned to its normal position by the expansible spring I8, the valve 39 remains seated to close the inlet orifice 35 until such time as the valve 43 is engaged by its seat 42. Obviously, during this action the pressure within the measuring compartment 33 is reduced, causing material in the plunger to be drawn through the ducts 46 and the opening 41 into the measuring compartment 33, thus terminating discharge and preventing dripping of suds through the discharge nozzle 30', it being appreciated that the interior of the plunger is open to atmosphere at all times through the discharge nozzle. In its normal position the valve 43 is seated by the spring 45. Consequently, the quantity of soap delivered to the measuring compartment 33 is determined by the capacity of the same.

One important advantage in the modified structure described above results from the fact that the discharge nozzle 30 is spaced sufiiciently from the butt or end of the thumb-piece l-' to aline the nozzle with the center of the palm of the operators hand, and because of the natural cup formed by the hand with the heel or butt of the palm engaging the end of the thumb-piece I5, one-hand manipulation is facilitated without danger of obstructing the discharge nozzle, such as might occur in that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, in which the discharge nozzle is positioned closely adjacent the end of the thumb-piece.

Also, the seating valves disclosed in Figure 6 may serve to more effectively control their respective ports than the valves shown in Figure 1, which do not seat but merely plug their respective openings.

Furthermore, inasmuch as the inner end of the valve stem disclosed in Figure 6 is slidably journaled in the spanner nut II, in which the inlet orifice and radial ducts are provided, the cut off valve 39 is held in true alinement with its seat 38, and while the opposite end of the valve stem is free, the tapered character of the valve 43 will cause it to securely engage its seat 42 to efiect a tight closure.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that an exceedingly simple and efficient manually operable dispensing valve has been provided for accurately measuring, converting, and discharging liquid soap in the form of suds, and while the preferred form of the invention contains a single moving element, consisting of the plunger and valve, the modified structure contains only two moving parts, namely, the plunger and the relatively movable valves carried by it.

I claim:

1. A liquid soap dispenser comprising, a casing communicating with a source of gravity supply and provided with a measuring compartment having an inlet and outlet, a manually operable plunger mounted within said casing and provided with anaerating chamber having communication with the interior of said casing and a discharge nozzle, a valve stem carried by said plunger, and a pair of spaced valves fixed on said stem for controlling said inlet and outlet.

2. A liquid soapdispenser comprising, a casing connected with a source of gravity supply and provided with an inlet at one end, a manually operable plunger mounted within said casing and provided with an aerating chamber having an opening communicating with the interior of said casing and a discharge nozzle, and a multiple valve unit carried by said plunger for controlling both said casing inlet and aerating chamber opening.

3. A liquid soap dispenser comprising, a casing connected with a source of gravity supply and provided with an inlet at one end, a manually operable plunger mounted within said casing and provided with an aerating chamber having an opening communicating with the interior of said casing and a discharge nozzle, and a valve unit carried by said plunger and including, a shank, a valve on said shank for closing the casing inlet upon depression of the plunger, and a second valve on said shank for controlling the plunger opening to admit soap to the aerating compartment upon depression of the plunger.

4. In a liquid soap dispenser including a hollow plunger, a sudsing plug fitted within the plunger,

and provm'd'with longitudinally spaced notched JOHN FREDERICK PALMER. 

